Manzanillo Sun eMagazine October 2019 edition

SUN

Manzanillo

coastal Mexico’s lifestyle magazine

Funnel cloud touches down in Manzanillo, September 4, 2019 photo by Ma Sheyla

Findings in Nature RV Travel Entertainment Nature’s Wonders History and Mythology Recipe Learn Spanish Path to Citizenship

October 2019

ManzanilloSun.com

WHAT’S INSIDE? October 2019

In this issue

Findings in Nature series by Terry Sovil Passionflower and Fruit....1

RV Travel series by Dan and Lisa Goy Bahía Concepción...4

Nature’s Wonders I Planted Roots in Mexico series by Tommy Clarkson Mexican Petunia...8 Duom Palm...12

Entertainment series by Suzanne A. Marshall At the movies Ad Astra...10 The Loudest Voice...15

History and Mythology series by Kirby Vickery Aluxe...11

Recipe - Food and Drink Pozole Verde con Pollo..17

Spanish Skills Crossword...20

Path to Citizenship (P2C) Mexican Cession….21

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Regular writers and contributors: - Suzanne A. Marshall - Allan Yanitski - Tommy Clarkson - Dana Parkinson - Terry Sovil - SeĂąior Tech - Kirby Vickery - Yann Kostic - Dan and Lisa Goy - Ruth Hazlewood and Dan Patman - Ken Waldie - John Chalmers

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FINDINGS IN NATURE October 2019

Passionflowers and Fruit

by Terry Sovil

I was gifted with a couple of branches about 2 feet / .61 me-

cially in the tropics, and the plant may grow over 20 feet / 6

ters that suddenly grew so fast I couldn’t keep pace with it. I

meters in a single year. Mine grew almost that much. If had

didn’t know what it was. They told me to hang some wire on

known, I would have built a PVC pipe trellis of some kind.

the wall to help guide it. The growth of the plant was over-

Probably not too late!

whelming. Then it had a flower but only for 12-24 hours. Then it grew fruits. I had to learn more about it.

From my reading, the flowering season is from April to November but can be year-round if conditions are right. I kept it wa-

It is a Passionflower or Vine, part of a genus that has about 600

tered lightly fertilized. I did hang some wire to help it “attach”

species of flowering plant. The family is Passifloraceae. These

but need more and for it to be organized better. The long ten-

plants are mostly tendril-bearing vines like mine. Some are

drils need support.

shrubs or trees. They can be woody or herbaceous. This plant produces a beautiful flower with a very distinct corona.

While I watched the vines grow, I noticed a flower. Oddly beautiful and gone the next day. The flower lasts for just 12-24

Out of the 600 species of Passiflora, only one, P. edulis Sims,

hours then closes. The little “bulb” closed and after a short time

produces passionfruit. Passiflora edulis has two types known as

the fruit appeared. The plant lives 4-6 years. The ovula on the

P.edulis, a purple passionfruit and P.edulis flavicarpa, a yellow

flower is what grows into the fruit (see photo).

passionfruit which mine is. This type is a vigorous vine, espe-

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FINDINGS IN NATURE October 2019 ...Passionfruit and Flowers

Too little fertilizer will also affect a passion vine. My fertilizer was along the line of a single handful. I read that each plant needs 10-5-20 Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer at a rate of 3 pounds per plant a couple of times per year.

Our soil here seems to be all it needs.

The fruit can be eaten fresh. The seeds are edible, but more often it is seen in drinks, desserts, sauces and other foods. The yellow form, lilikoi is its Hawaiian name, tends to be more of the previous items and not so much for fresh eating. Many find the pulp too tart or acidic although it varies from vine to vine.

The lilikoi has an origin with little information. Perhaps a cross

They can also attract pests. You must stay alert for ants, aphids,

between types or a wild development. It is well established

inch worms and some butterflies (or moths). The fruit likes full

throughout Pacific Islands and parts of Central and South

sun near the coast, but inland growth needs some protection

America. It is an important commercial crop but frequently con-

from hot, dry heat.

sidered a pest in many regions, like Hawaii. Bees are critical to cross-pollinating the flowers to form fruit.

You don’t want to over fertilize which can get the plant to grow more with less emphasis on fruit development.

When trying to keep the vines sorted out and growing, you need to prune it in the spring. The vines are all over but generally off one big stem. You need to trace your vine back to its

On the next page, you’ll find two links to YouTube videos on

source, so you are sure you don’t cut off a major stem, since

these plants. Watch for the “Skip Ad” in the lower right so you

smaller stems grow out from that and obtain their water from

can move past the commercial.

it.

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FINDINGS IN NATURE October 2019 ...Passionfruit and Flowers

The second link focuses on the bud to the fruit. It is detailed The first video is very good at showing the plant / vine development. The vines “reach out” looking for something to attach too.

and runs about 5 minutes. They number the steps on the lower left from 1 to 14. You can always pull the little cursor ahead.

There is some text but no real narration. This video shows the same type of fruit that is growing on my vines. They are ready to harvest when they are bright yellow!

Once they find it, they will firmly grab hold and continued growth looks like a tightly wrapped “spring”. This runs about 4

Fruit

development:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=53VL9DSO4Rs

minutes but clearly shows the growth to a beautiful flower, but not fruit.

Plant/vine

development:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=SVEWkKt60qE

you can reach Terry Sovil at terry@manzanillosun.com

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RV TRAVEL October 2019

Baja Beach RV Snowbird Paradise - Bahía Concepción

by Dan and Lisa Goy

Playa Santispac y Bahía Concepción

For many Snowbird RVers, Bahía Concepción (Bay of Concep-

ley, seafood caught locally, homemade baked goods and the

tion) is the ultimate destination, a true RV paradise. Across the

best tamales ever!

Sea of Cortez from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, the grip of winter is a distant memory. Hundreds of RVers spend some time on the

Often, on Fridays, at dinner time, the local Mulegé pizza entre-

beach here every winter at a latitude shared with Brownsville,

preneur arrives with a choice of Hawaiian or pepperoni by the

Texas and Miami, Florida.

box. You can also arrange to top up the water in your RV or get everything washed. Of course, we cannot forget the blan-

Every Baja snowbird camps here, often only a few days, some

ket, shirt and jewelry vendors. How many? What colour? Almost

the entire winter, only meters from the beach. In 9 years and

free! Aldofo and Peleo are regulars from town you will see dai-

50-plus tours, we have never had a complaint about this desti-

ly, without exception. They are always very polite, friendly and

nation. I expect we should have stayed longer. Sunrises are

ready to make a deal!

stunning as is the scenery.

You have lots of options for beach camping on Bahía ConcepThis is dry camping; so those planning to stay for longer peri-

ción. Although there are 12 accessible waterfront locations, only

ods of time have plenty of solar power (generators are frowned

5 beaches are generally populated by every type of RV. Gener-

on), blue boys and wheels to get around. Vendors arrive every

ally, you will pay $200 - $250 pesos ($13-$15 CAD) per night

morning, with everything you can imagine, to each beach with

for this wonderful experience.

campers. This includes fresh produce grown in the Mulegé val-

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RV TRAVEL October 2019 ...Bahía Concepción

Playa Santispac This is, by far, the most popular RV beach on the Bay of Conception. Set within Bahía Concepción, in Bahía Coyote, this is very sheltered. It has a great beach, with an easy, short entrance and exit. This is also the closet campground to the Village of Mulegé, approximately 20 minutes away.

You cannot miss the Santispac as it is in plain site from Hwy 1.

Every Baja RV Caravan stops here, including Baja Amigos, and we have seen almost 90 RVs on this beach at one time. With 2

El Requesón

restaurants, and with campers, this place can get busy, as is Hwy 1 at night with semi-trucks.

El Requesón This is one the most picturesque beaches on Bahía Concepción, located on a sandspit. With water on both sides, including great beaches, you can always get waterfront. We have stayed here many times, with and with out caravans. A few years ago, the entrance and exit from Hwy 1 was significantly rebuilt from both directions, making access easy and safe from either direction. The only downside about camping here is your distance

Santispac Beach

from Mulegé, a good 40-minute drive.

Playa El Coyote Also, very popular; the entrance can be tricky, as can the drive to the main beach, for larger RVs, although every size of RV can be found here. This has many trees which can be handy for shade and a very protected part of the bay. You will not hear so much road traffic, however you lose the sun faster in the afternoon with the mountain directly behind the campground.

Playa Los Cocos Shopping on the beach

Only a few minutes from Playa Santispac, this beach is usually packed with regulars, although that is in some transition of late.

Playa La Perla

Historically, this campground has lots of rules posted and the

This beach is next door to El Requesón, so best to take the

snowbirds are planted for the season. With room for about 20

same entrance. We have also stayed at this campground, which

RVs, each site has a palapa and folks are only ever 10 meters

is more sheltered, with better bigger palapas, fewer spaces and

or so from high tide. It has easy entry to the beach heading

the beach is rocky. The benefit for those staying at La Perla is

south, not so much heading north.

privacy and little traffic of any kind.

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RV TRAVEL October 2019 ...Bahía Concepción

Sunrise on Bahía Concepción

What to see and do?

Kayaking, fishing and eco-tours are the staple activities of this

In 1889, the church and the Eiffel Tower were put on display at

region. In recent years, whale sharks have appeared in abun-

the Paris World's Exposition. This town is much larger than

dance in the shallow waters off many of the beaches. Hiking is

Mulegé, with many more amenities, including ferry access to

extremely popular. Our friends, Bruce and Marian, have hiked

mainland Mexico and Guaymas/San Carlos.

most of the peninsula on the east side of the bay.

Whether you cross at Tijuana, Tecate or Mexicali, the drive to Mulegé is an interesting village, with many amenities, including

Bahía Concepción should take no more than 3 days, even at 6

a couple of good grocery stores, a few restaurants, and an

hours a day on the road.

ATM. Santa Rosalia is also a draw for tourists, given it unique history, wood construction and famous pre-fabricated metal

Take your time, enjoy the scenery, stay safe and we guarantee

church built by Alexander Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame).

fond memories will be made on the beach!

… more pics follow

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RV TRAVEL October 2019 ...Bahía Concepción

Los Cocos

RVs on Playa Santispac

Happy hour on the beach

SUP Santispac

Submitted by Dan and Lisa Goy Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours www.BajaAmigos.net

Whale Shark off Playa Coyote

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NATURE’S WONDERS October 2019

wood stem cuttings or by aggressively self-sown seeds – the result of which may be that one may wish to containerize or border them. In fact, in Florida, they are considered invasive! In more cooler climes, they are planted as annuals.

Ruellia brittoniana needs a warm climate, sited in partial shade, growing in fertile, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Like two similar other varieties with variegation - Ruellia Makoyana and

Ruellia portellae - they may be propagated by division of their

by Tommy Clarkson

root balls, through softwood stem cuttings, or it can self-seed

Mexican Petunia, Ruellia brittoniana

quite energetically. The seeds are also moved to new terrain

Family Acanthaceae

during the rainy season or when hosed with water.

Also known as Ruellia, Desert Petunia, Mexican Blue

Bells, Florida Blue Bells, Purple Ruellia, Hardy Petunias or Purple shower (Interestingly, upon deciding to share information about these

lovelies, I fast learned that few other botanical writers have given them much notice nor note. Hence, let us, herein, try to make proper amends for their oversight!)

Perhaps, like Alexander-the-Great, who had an explosively, brilliant, but all-too-short, life, are the flowers of the Mexican Petunia that exist for only one bright, beautiful day! Maybe, in

These have also been known as Ruellia simplex, Ruellia angustifolia (Nees) Lindau and Cryphiacanthus angustifolius Nees.

atonement for this shortcoming, they are extremely easy to grow.

Neither the flowers nor the plant itself has a distinctive fragrance. Nonetheless, it does manage to attract bees, butterflies

Native to Mexico and the southwestern US, there may be, at

and even hummingbirds to the garden. The elongated leaves of

least, a dozen varieties of these smallish, evergreen shrubs

this plant can reach up to twelve inches (30.48 cm) though,

which bear numerous tubular, white, pink, blue or purple, petu-

when grown in dry conditions, they usually remain shorter.

nia-like flowers, on dark stems that grow in great abundance.

(But, do understand from the outset, that these are not actually

They love full sun but grow well in partial shade. However, the

Petunias.)

more sunlight they receive, the more flowers they produce.

These plants thoroughly enjoy warm weather and are capable

They are said to grow up to two to six feet (60.96 – 182.88 cm)

of surviving both flooding and drought. However - just like me

tall and be of equal girth, however, mine are significantly less in

- they don’t do well in the cold. As temperatures drop, if possi-

size – perhaps as a result of being potted.

ble, move them away from the cool breeze.

The Mexican Petunia displays daily new blooms, over a long

Once established, they thrive and flourish in almost any type of

period. They are fast growers and can be propagated by soft-

soil but, for optimal growth, use a well-draining fertile loam.

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NATURE’S WONDERS October 2019 ...Mexican Petunia

The best approach is to water them just enough to keep the soil consistently moist. While the established plants are sturdy, and can go without water for a long time, the young Mexican petunia needs regular watering. And, just like us, vitamins are a plus.

While they’ll grow well without an additional boost of fertilizers, a tablespoon of 10-10-10 fertilizer, mixed in a bucket of water, and given to them, is much appreciated. . .. or you can merely scatter the fertilizer around the plant and then water into the soil.

And then we’ve these!!!!!

Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) 'Purple Showers'

Transplant Mexican Petunias when the temperature is warm

For that, simply spray a good-quality insecticide or a soap solu-

enough to allow the plant to properly settle into its new home

tion on the foliage and keep the problem under control by

and grow. Given that - under the right conditions - these plants

pruning the infected leaves, flowers, and stems.

are quite self-sufficient and require little additional care.

These low mounding and compact plants are a good selection If they commence to take over your garden, simply pull out

for along borders. One popular cultivar, Ruellia brittoniana

some of the stems. Also, regularly prune them to optimal shape

'Katie', is smaller, with a mature size at 12-15 inches (30.48 –

to maintain their appealing appearance. Also, remember to clip

38.10 cm) in height and 15-18 inches (38.10 – 45.72 cm) wide.

off the burned or damaged leaves. If, however, you seek more of these lovely flowers, merely cut the stems halfway down once the flowering season ends and it will replace the lost stems by growing multiple stems and flowers!

Other than cold weather, which can damage the plant and turn its leaves brown, Mexican Petunia usually does not encounter any serious problems. Pest-wise, it is not common for them to get infected, though they are a bit susceptible to spider mites.

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Get your copy of The Civilized Jungle: Tropical Plants Facts and Fun From Ola Brisa Gardens Volume I, and now Volume II is here!!

For back issues of "Roots", gardening tips, tropical plant book reviews and videos of numerous, highly unique eco/adventure/nature tours, as well as memorable "Ultimate Experiences" such as Tropical Garden Brunches Visit us at... www.olabrisagardens.com

you can reach Tommy Clarkson at tommy@manzanillosun.com

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ENTERTAINMENT October 2019 At the Movies Ad Astra Directed by:

James Gray

Starring:

Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga

“Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unfor-

giving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.”

We attended this movie with a large group of friends and the opinions shared about it were very mixed. I rather liked it for its total diversion from the typical genres of the day.

Of course, it involves a lot of space travel, an eerily quiet soundtrack, by comparison, and a willingness on the viewer’s part to go along with the premise and take this fictional journey with the protagonist. It’s always fascinating to see the modelled space crafts and technology that is touted as realistic. But who knows?

The story takes us to the moon, Mars and Jupiter. Brad Pitt’s role is also that of a quietly emotional, disciplined astronaut

Tommy Lee Jones pulls off a convincing, rugged and mentally

who, it seems, has never fulfilled a desire to be part of a fami-

affected person who has lived alone in the universe for dec-

ly and be loved by his father.

ades. I found it all quite intriguing. It will depend on one’s personal preference.

This, in spite of a denial of the need for answers and some sort of closure. Still, he is the astronaut chosen for this mission but we do find out there are ulterior motives.

IMDB rates the movie at 7.1/10 based on 28,613 viewers’ comments. you can reach Suzanne A. Marshall at suzanne@manzanillosun.com advertisement

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HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY October 2019 ALUXE as told by Kirby Vickery

Let’s say that you’re a Mayan farmer, from any time period from the ancient Mayan Empire that we are still finding to be larger than we thought, to, even today or tomorrow, for that matter. Your chief crop wouldn’t have changed through all this time. It is maize or corn. As you are planting it, you realize that you are going to need some extra help in getting in a repeated good crop that sells well, allowing for you and your family to grow and prosper.

You can get the Mayan gods to smile on you if you believe in them, and there are still people all over the Yucatan Peninsula and the upper Central American countries that do. Or, you can have a Christian priest bless your efforts. Better yet, if ancient belief is something that would be even more beneficial, then

Olmec Aluxe

you could go all the way back into the Olmec era in mythology and invoke the good will of a Chaneque (the Nahual or Aztec name), or Aluxe, for protection and blessing. That will run you

Aluxes were also blamed for the collapse of the stage at

back to 1600 BCE.

Chichen Itza before an Elton John concert. After a ceremony was held with offerings, the concert went off without a hitch.

Aluxes are knee-high dwarf-like beings that are considered to

In 1844, the American showman extraordinaire, PT Barnum, had

be spirits of Mayan ancestors who roam the Mayan jungle.

traveled to the court of Queen Victoria with his human circus

They are said to be invisible but are able to assume physical

act. Barnum presented to her two special members of his per-

form and resemble miniature, traditionally dressed Mayans. If

forming troupe, a pair of micro encephalic dwarves from the

Aluxes are treated with respect, they can bring good luck and

jungles of Mexico.

be very helpful. If they are not, they will play tricks on people.

Some believe that Aluxes appear when a farmer builds a little

The dwarves bowed and greeted her most Britannic majesty, in

house for them on his property in a corn field and performs

Spanish and in their native Maya dialect. In his introduction,

the proper ceremony.

Barnum claimed that the dwarves were “the last degenerate remains of a caste of high priests found, at great expense, in a

For seven years, they will help create favorable conditions for

lost Maya city.” As the acrobatics show in the palace com-

the crops to grow. At the end of seven years, the farmer must

menced, the serious queen was, indeed, amused. She showed

seal the windows and doors of the little house with the Aluxe

her delight openly for these tiny Mexican visitors. Other nobles

inside. If this is not done, the Aluxe will run wild and start play-

and notables at the English court did so, too.

ing tricks on people. Various versions of this belief still exist.

It was only later, in reflection in her personal diaries, that the When the bridge to the Cancun airport was being built, the ar-

queen expressed a sense of sadness for these two who she

chitects and engineers were baffled by the fact that it kept fall-

thought were relegated to a most miserable existence. While

ing apart for no apparent reason. Locals of Mayan descent

Barnum was known for his exaggeration and tall tales, there

pointed out that they had not asked for permission to con-

might have been a part of him that actually believed that the

struct the bridge.

two Maya dwarves he was traveling with were part of a small race of magical, feral, humanlike beings who lived in the moun-

The architects and engineers insisted that all government per-

tains and forests of Mexico and Central America. He had heard

mits were in place, but the locals clarified that they also needed

the story of the Aluxe from the tiny Mayan acrobats them-

permission from the Aluxes. They aren’t evil. In the case of the

selves.

airport bridge, they were simply guarding their land.

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HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY October 2019 ...Aluxe

say they can shape shift like Odo in Star Trek, Deep Space Nine. They can be killed but, it is difficult, and has to be done concisely. Otherwise, they turn into contemptuous evil pranksters with the ability to kill.

Did they exist? Do they still exist? It’s another case of modern history coming into conflict with ancient mythology. Modern archeologists are digging up bones of various small people with some more human-like than others. Facts pop out of the Photo Credit: Sergio Orozco/SIPSE

dust and mire.

The world has known of little people from every continent.

There are the Hobbits which are actually rumored to be the original Homo Floresiens. Then there are Pygmies, Memegwaans, Farias, Brownies, Altar, Gnomes, Goblins or Gremlins, Leprechauns, Pixies, Tcho-Tcho, just to mention a few, some familiar and some not. In Mexico, we also see a tradition of powerful, nearly invisible, small-statured, human-like creatures, in two areas.

We see what is called the Aluxe – or plural, Aluxeob – in the Maya heartland, encompassing the Yucatan Peninsula and modern -day Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco. In the eastern and southern portions of the former Aztec Empire – notably in the present-day states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Guerrero – the “wee folk” were called Chaneques. The word Chaneque comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “those who inhabit dangerous places.”

So, we see the magical little people legends confined to the eastern and southern parts of the modern-day nation of Mexico. To this day, people believe in these creatures and the Aluxe/Chaneque phenomenon is being studied by serious Mex-

PT Barnum’s Aluxe (?)

ican and international researchers.

So, are these stories that are constantly heard all around the

One of them is that no one can come up with an explanation

globe true? Or, how could these ancient cultures have contact

for the ragged DNA historical code these small people have

in order to share these kinds of legends? Some theories sug-

that follows local histories all over the world. So, why not?

gest that Scandinavian pirates landed in America, spreading

What have you got to lose?

their beliefs among natives.

Should you ever meet one, I would highly recommend that you The truth is that even in present day, people still take into ac-

treat it with honor and respect because, if you don’t, you

count these creatures and they worship them, and even fear

should remember that they have the power of the ancient gods

them, letting them be part of their everyday life.

and a devious sense of humor which could be threatening to

Some will tell you that they carry a slingshot to aim and fire on

life – yours.

disagreeable people or other animals they don’t like. Others

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you can reach Kirby at kirby.vickery@manzanillosun.com

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NATURE’S WONDERS October 2019

by Tommy Clarkson

Duom Palm Hyphaene thebaica Family Heliconiaceae Also known as Gingerbread Palm or Branching Palm

(As was My Patty - who passed away May 12th, 2018 - these

palms are unique, unlike so many others of their relevant kind and, quite simply, rather rare! What makes these the latter is that, unlike the vast preponderance of other single, erect trunked species, no few of the Duom Palms have trunks that attractively fork (dichotomous branching)! As a result, some authorities consider it the most distinctive of all palm species. Accordingly, I searched for Duom Palm seeds for some time, as I wished to honor she who had been my partner in life, love and

And the fruit is, indeed, edible!

in the creation of Ola Brisa Gardens, by displaying some here.

Finally, through my pal, Dr. Mark Olson of UNAM, my search was successfully completed. They have sprouted and are now planted. I am – yet again - in his debt!)

Interestingly, there are perhaps ten species (though I’ve also read that some botanists believe as many as forty) in this ge-

Historically – as written by David L. Jones in “Palms throughout the World” - “The Duom Palm was revered by the early Egyptians, with large quantities of fruit being recovered from the tombs of the pharaohs and outlines of the trees being commonly depicted at that time. It is even recorded that plants of this palm were planted in gardens as early as 1800 BC.” Appro-

nus; but they have yet to be fully identified, studied and – as

priately, it originated in the coastal areas of northern and east-

Alan W. Meerow, in Betrock’s Guide to Landscape Palms states –

ern Africa, growing prolifically along the Nile.

“circumscribed from each other.” (Do you think they do that to

these baby palms at birth? Groan!)

Other species in this genus grow in mid to southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, through Madagascar and on the western

Other, more commonly recognized species in this genus include the Hala Palm (H. coriacea), Indian Duom Palm (H. indi-

ca), the Vegetable Ivory Palm (H. petersiana) and Elala Palm (H. compressa). And, should you wish to produce viable seeds for growing more of these palms, keep in mind that all Hyphaene

coastal area of India. According to “Genera Palmerum, The Evolution and Classification of Palms” – a tome I, generally, find much too scientific (and way too expensive) for we lay gardeners - states, “All species seem to be used by man; thus their distribution has been much influenced by destructive harvesting and accidental or deliberate planting. Elephants and baboons,

palms are dioecious (male and female flowers are borne on

among other wild animals, are responsible for seed dispersal.

separate plants.)

Bees have been observed visiting the flowers.” (Well, duh!)

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NATURE’S WONDERS October 2019 ...Duom Palm

Dead fronds – to the petiole base – will, ultimately, drop off, displaying a closely ringed trunk. Their mature fruit are oblong to pear-shaped, orange to brown and over three inches (7.62 cm) long. They require open, sunny locales to properly grow.

Multi-trunked, indeed.

Most of them are lowland growers, however, H. compressa can be found as high as at 4,500 feet (1,371.6 meters) in Kenya and Tanzania. Tolerant of salinity in both the air and soil, all species are drought tolerant, but prefer more adequate watering. That other name for this species, Gingerbread Palm, is purportedly

Look at me, I’m special!

derived as a result of the taste of its fruit! Its Latin epithet

According to Robert Lee Riffle and Paul Craft, in “An Encyclope-

comes from “of Thebes” which was an ancient city that thrived

dia of Cultivated Palms”, this “species is sparsely clustering and

along the Nile.

free branching - even at a relatively young age. It is similar in general appearance to H. compressa and H. dichotoma but

With older plants potentially having many branches, these each

does not grow as tall, although it is almost as massive in old

end with a crown of stiffly, fan-shaped (costapalmate), gray

age because of its repeated and dense branching.

green to silvery-green leaves covered with a whitish wax. These arise atop sturdy petioles, armed with thick, black teeth along

Individual trunks never attain more than fifty feet (15.24 meters)

their margins. There is a well-developed hastula (this is that lit-

of height and are usually thirty feet (9.15 meters) or less. . . The

tle flap of tissue at the top of the petiole where the leaf proper

palm is exceptionally picturesque and appealing at all ages.”

commences) on the leaf undersides. However, none appear on the top. The leaf sheaths will split with age directly below the petiole. you can reach Tommy Clarkson at tommy@manzanillosun.com

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ENTERTAINMENT October 2019 At the Movies Rambo: Last Blood Directed by:

Adrian Grunberg

Starring:

Sylvester Stallone, Yvette Montreal, Sergio Peris, Adriana Barraza

“Vietnam War Veteran, John Rambo, tries to find some semblance of peace by raising horses on a ranch in Arizona. He’s also developed a special familial bond with a woman named Maria and her teenage daughter, Gabriela. But when a vicious Mexican cartel kidnaps her, Rambo crosses the border on a bloody quest to rescue her and punish those responsible.”

I suspect this is likely the last of the Rambo series we have seen over the past decades. Sylvester is still a force to recon with, even at 75.

The movie appears to portray that he has PTSD, an assumption on my part, drawn on the fact that he lives underground in a series of tunnels near the ranch house.

It’s a well-done movie and becomes very vicious when the

I was surprised to see a lot of Bulgarian names in the credits and that the movie was shot in Portugal. Nonetheless, you would think you were in Mexico.

‘payback’ commences. So, it’s no surprise when the blood starts flowing and bodies begin to stack up. You need to understand the nature of these movies before you go and take it for what it’s worth.

IMDB rates the movie at 6.9/10 based on 11,333 viewers’ comments. you can reach Suzanne A. Marshall at suzanne@manzanillosun.com advertisement

you can reach Suzanne A. Marshall at suzanne@manzanillosun.com

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FINANCE October 2019 Avoid Mistakes Now, Live a Happy Retirement Later

by Yann Kostic advertisement

It’s easy to make financial mistakes when you’re young, because you can generally recover from them over time. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said as you approach retirement, when you’ll have less room for error. With that in mind, here are five mistakes that are easy to make heading into, or during, retirement.

Waiting too long to start saving If you save aggressively in your twenties, those gains will compound over forty or more years. But the later you start saving, the harder it gets to accumulate a nest egg with which you are comfortable.

Not saving enough Some of us are disciplined savers who live below our means and put away a good amount for retirement. Most of us are not. Indeed, the savings rate today is around 6%, about half what it was in the 1960s. So, as you approach retirement, it’s a good idea to make do with less and save more.

Ignore tax consequences Every dollar you pay in taxes is a dollar you could have potentially saved and invested. So consider tax-advantaged accounts, such as 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Being too aggressive Being too aggressive late in your retirement can be disastrous, and it’s easy to do when we’ve saved too little. Many investors try and compensate for a lack of savings and low returns on safer investments such as cash and bonds by taking on more risk.

Being too conservative On the other hand, having too little in riskier investments can also be disastrous. Stocks are usually the best long-term growth vehicle, but other investments can fall into this category as well – real estate, for example, and commodities. Regardless of how you take on risk, you’ll likely need at least a little, depending on your time horizon – more when it’s longer, less when it’s shorter.

The takeaway: don’t make mistakes now that will affect your lifestyle later.

Note: This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide financial advice for your particular situation.

Note: This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and

is not intended to provide financial advice for your particular situation.

Yann Kostic, MBA and Tom Zachystal, CFP, are Presidents of their respective Assets Management firms, both US-Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). Tom is the San Francisco Financial Planners’ Association President. Tom and Yann cater to US expats in Mexico and worldwide. Comments, questions or to request his newsletter, “News you can use” contact him at yannk@atlantisgrp.com, in the US at (321) 574-1 529 or in Mexico, (376) 106-1613.

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FOOD AND DRINK October 2019

Green Pozole with Chicken Ingredients ✓ 1 can of hominy 108 oz (3.06 Kg) ✓ 1 whole chicken ✓ 2 garlic heads +4 garlic cloves, divided ✓ 2 Tbsp salt ✓ 2 pounds tomatillos 2 1/2 medium white onions, divided ✓ 1-3 Serrano peppers (stems removed) ✓ 2 bunches of cilantro ✓ 1/3 cup of pepitas (optional) ✓ Up to 2 cups of water ✓ 1 iceberg lettuce head ✓ 1 bunch radishes ✓ 2 avocados ✓ 8-10 limes ✓ Dry Mexican oregano leaves ✓ 1-2 pack tostadas Utensils ✓ Colander ✓ Big pot or tamalera ✓ Blender Directions Open the can of hominy and rinse well in a colander until the water is clear. Place the hominy in your largest pot, considering the hominy and the whole chicken are going to need to fit. If you don’t have a large enough pot, split everything in half and place into two pots.

Clean and cut the chicken into 4 pieces and place it all in the pot with the hominy. Take the two garlic heads whole, rinse them and throw them in the pot, too. Lastly, put water in the pot until it covers everything so far (approx. 20-24 cups). Bring it to boil and then lower the temperature to medium and let it simmer for 45-55 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.

Take the chicken out of the soup and let it cool. In the meantime, prepare the salsa: You may need to do this part in batches, unless you have an industrial blender. In a blender, mix well the 4 cloves of peeled garlic, half an onion, two pounds of tomatillos (peeled and wash), serrano chiles (to taste, one for flavor, two for heat), cilantro, salt and pepitas. Add up to two cups of water in order to blend smoothly.

Add the salsa to the soup pot with the hominy and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes on low heat until the salsa changes in color from bright green to olive green. Taste for salt. The soup is ready to serve.

While the broth is simmering with the salsa, shred the cooked chicken by hand. At this point, you have two options, either add the shredded chicken straight to the pot or keep the chicken separate and add a little bit to each bowl as you serve it to make sure everyone who wants some gets some.

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To Serve 

Wash the lettuce and finely chop



Wash and finely slice the radishes and chop the remaining onions.



Slice the avocados and cut the limes into halves



Serve the soup in a traditional ceramic pozole dish, or a bowl, adding some shredded chicken, lettuce, radishes, chopped onion, avocado, a pinch of dry oregano, and lime juice.

Accompany with tostadas. ¡Buen provecho!

Source (article and images): MamaLatinaTips.com

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SPANISH SKILLS October 2019 Crossword solution posted in next month’s edition

Across 1 (she) doubted 3 which, what, of those mentioned 7 two 8 (I) brought 9 (they) will wet 13 (I) cried 15 anger 16 love 17 (I) ate Down 1 finger 2 desire, something wished for; wish 4 (feminine of) a 5 to read 6 across (1,6) 10 attic 11 (I) was smelling 12 (I) exited 14 bear

Last month’s crossword solution:

lexisrex.com

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PATH TO CITIZENSHIP (P2C) October 2019 Mexican Cessation of the XIX Century from the Path to Citizenship series

The Mexican Cession is the region in the modern-day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the US in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. This region had not been part of the areas east of the Rio Grande which had been claimed by the Republic of Texas, though the Texas annexation resolution two years earlier had not specified the southern and western boundary of the new state of Texas.

Mexico’s ceded territory

The Mexican Cession (529,000 sq. miles; 1 370 104 km2) was the third-largest acquisition of territory in US history. The larg-

The northern boundary of the 42nd parallel north was set by

est was the Louisiana Purchase, with some 827,000 sq. miles (2

the Adams–Onís Treaty signed by the United States and Spain in

141 920 km2; including land from fifteen present U.S. states

1821 and ratified by Mexico in 1831 in the Treaty of Limits

and two Canadian provinces), followed by the acquisition of

(Mexico-United States).

Alaska (about 586,000 sq. miles; 1 517 700 km2).

The eastern boundary of the Mexican Cession was the Texas Most of the area had been the Mexican territory of Alta Califor-

claim at the Rio Grande and extending north from the headwa-

nia, while a southeastern strip on the Rio Grande had been part

ters of the Rio Grande, not corresponding to Mexican territorial

of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, most of whose area and popula-

boundaries.

tion were east of the Rio Grande on land that had been claimed by the Republic of Texas since 1835, but never con-

The southern boundary was set by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hi-

trolled or even approached aside from the Texan Santa Fe Ex-

dalgo, which followed the Mexican boundaries between Alta

pedition.

California (to the north) and Baja California and Sonora (to the south).

Mexico controlled the territory later known as the Mexican Cession, with considerable local autonomy punctuated by several

The United States paid Mexico $15 million for the land which

revolts and few troops sent from central Mexico, in the period

became known as the Mexican Cession.

from 1821–22 after independence from Spain up through 1846 when U.S. military forces seized control of California and New Mexico on the outbreak of the Mexican–American War.

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Source (images and article): Wikimedia

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